Rotary plow



Aug. 18, 1936. Y B, F. GRAVELY 2,051,443

ROTARY PLOW Filed March 9, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l In' R Jirf v ly, 3

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B. F. GRAVELY 2,051,443

ROTARY PLOW Aug. 18, 1936.

5 sneaks-sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1935 Aug. 18, 1936. B. F. GRAVI-:LY 2,051,443

ROTARY PLOW Filed March 9, 1955 3 Sheets-SheerI 3 u 3S... Tl/ `f/////..m... Q EN a i, m. iw MMMTT Q Wlwwmill n bm n nl 21mm" 5.1? mwly, Mgg/M 0%@ Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for tilling the soil and more particularly to a plow which will be so constructed as to comminute the surface of the ground to a proper depth and leave it free 5 from furrows, so that it will be substantially smooth and in proper condition for seeding or sodding.

Another object is to provide means for deecting and cutting vegetation on the soil to be treated,

l means for raising the surface soil, means for cutting the same and passing it rearwardly, and means for further breaking up the soil thus cut and simultaneously throwing the same away from the device.

A further object is to mount certain moving parts of the machine as to prevent damage thereto upon contacting with an obstruction.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when considered 20 in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the invention.

Figure 4 is a front view showing the arrangement of the plow proper and parts thereabove.

Figure 5 is a rea-r view thereof.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a section on the line '1 -1 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an edge view of a certain cutter used herein.

Figure 9 is a face view thereof.

Figure 10 is a detailshowing the manner of mounting certain tines used herein.

In the drawings, I0 represents a tractor mechanism which forms no portion of the present invention but which will be briefly described with the statement that it is provided with a ground wheel II driven from a shaft i2, operated by an engine I3. 'I'he shaft I2 extends to the forward end of the tractor where it is splined to the shaft of the plow mechanism now to be described, which mechanism is connected to the forward end of the tractor and propelled thereby.

The plow mechanism, which constitutes the present invention, includes the plow section designated as a whole by the numeral i4, the depth gauge wheels i5, the supporting bar i6, and deecting unit I1. The bar I6, which is tubular, 50 is mounted for vertical movement on a pivot i8 at the forward end of a portion of the plow section I4, which portion will be described later herein. Secured in the forward end of the bar, by a pin I6', is a trunnion I9, mounted upon which is 55 a member 20 having a transverse tubular portion 2l formed integral therewith. Passing through this tubular portion and held at its center by a set screw 22 passing throughsaid tubular portion, is an axle 23, upon the outer ends of which the depth gauge wheels I5 are journaled. The 5 extremities of the axle 23 are offset, in opposite directions, as at 23', so as to cause the wheels to tend to draw the machine to one side, to counteract the side pull caused by the action of the rotary members of the plow section. It will be noted l0 that the effect of this offsetting of the axle ends may be adjusted by rotating the axle in the tubular portion 2I after loosening the set screw.

The rear end of the supporting bar I6 passes through an arcuate yoke 24 mounted upon the l5 rear of the upper side of the plow section I4 and the legs of this yoke are provided with notches 25. Slidably mounted in the rear end of the tubular supporting bar I6 is a piston 26 in which is secured a transverse pin 21, the ends of which 20 project beyond the piston and through the slots 28 in opposite sides of the supporting bar to rest, selectively, in the notches 25. Secured to the piston 26 and passing through a plug 29 fastened in the extreme rear end of the bar I6, is a rod 3D 25 having an eye 30 in its free end and encircling this rod, with its ends engaging the piston 26 and plugs 29, respectively, is a coil spring 3| which holds the ends of the pin 21 rmly within the notches 25. A second bar 32 is connected to 30 the eye 30' and to a grip 33 pivoted to one of the handles 34 of the tractor.

Connected to the supporting bar I6 immediately in the rear of the depth gauge wheels i5, is the deecting unit i1, comprising a fork 36 pivoted to 35 said supporting bar by means of a pin 35 passing therethrough and having an axle 31 supported in its lower ends. Mounted for rotation on this axle are the equally spaced cutter disks I1a. Connecting the legs of the fork 36, just below their point of attachment to the supporting bar, is a pin 38 secured to which is one end of a coil spring 39 whose other end is connected to an eye 40 on the lower end of the pin I6. This spring serves to hold the disks Ila against upward movement. It will be noted that the peripheries of these disks are sharp and knife-like.

Immediately in the rear of the cutter disks I1a is the plow section I4 which will now be described. This section includes a vertically arranged supporting plate 4I having straight parallel sides 42 and 43, curved upper and lower sides 44 and 45 and a central opening 46 surrounded by a rearwardly projecting flange 41. Projecting rearwardly from the edge of the plate 4l, and completely surrounding same, is a. flange 48 within which -is a centrally arranged circular flange 49 concentric with the ange 41 and of the same height as the flange 48. The flange 49 has, on its outer face, a number of equally spaced perforated lugs 60, through the medium of which the plow section is securely bolted to. corresponding lugs 50 on the forward 4end of the tractor. Extending forwardly from the center of the plate 4|, with its base surrounding the opening 46, is a tubular supporting member 5| having an opening 62 in its outer end. Supported in the opening 46, on a suitable anti-friction bearing is the hub of acarrier disk 53, within which hub iskeyed the rear end of a shaft 64, the other end of the shaft extending through and beyond the forward end of the supporting member 5|.^` An intermediate portion of this shaft is journaled in the opening 52, at the outer end of the supporting member. Secured to the rear face of the carrier disk 53 are stub shafts 56 on which are mounted the planet gears 56 of a planetary transmission which planet gears are in mesh with the teeth of an orbit gear 51 supported in the flange 49, and also in mesh with a sun gear 58, formed upon the inner end of a tube 59 splined upon the forward end of the tractor shaft |2. It will be noted that the carrier disk 53 bears against the ange 41, which prevents forward movement of the shaft 54. It will be noted that the rear face of the carrier disk 53 is recessed as at 53 and that the end of the shaft 54 projects into this recess Where it is fitted with a nut 54. Beneath this nut and encircling the threaded end of the shaft is a washer 55' which bears against the lower wall of the recess 53. By means of this nut and washer arrangement, the end of the shaft is held within the hub of the carrier disk 53.

Threaded through a boss 68, on the upper side of the flange 49, is a screw 6| to which is secured a transverse lever 62 connected to a rod 63 which extends to a point adjacent the grip 33 on the tractor handle. Through the medium of this rod, the screw 6| may be turned so as to cause it to engage the orbit gear 51 and hold the same against rotation, or so as to release the same.

Keyed to the forward end of the shaft 54, out-A wardly of the supporting member 5|, is the hub portion 64 of an arbor `which arbor also includes a. rearwardly extending cup-like web portion 66 surrounding and spaced from the supporting member 5| and connected to a radial flange 61 at the rear end of the hub. At the free end of the web portion 66 is a radial flange 68, forming a stop. Mounted upon the web portion 66 of the arbor 65, and frictionally held for rotation therewith are the tine assemblies 69 and 18 which, in all essential details, are identically constructed and one of which is illustrated, in front elevation, in Figure 10. Each tine assembly includes a pair of clamping disks 1| and 12, between which is held a group of tines 13, preferably three in number. The clamping disk 1| has, on one of its side faces, a plurality of intersecting grooves 14 defined by marginal bosses 15 and a central hexagonal boss 16. Perforating the center of the hexagonal boss is a. circular opening 11 to receive the web of the arbor 65. This structure is clearly illustrated in Figure 10 with the exception of the clamping disk 12.

The clamping disk 12 of the tine assembly 69 is in the form of a fiat Washer with a diameter and central opening corresponding to those of the disk 1|. and having smooth side faces. The

clamping disk 12 of the tine assembly 10 is similarly constructed excepting that a lateral flange surrounds its central opening, to form a sleeve The tines 13 are elongated blades having fiat, relatively broad ground engaging vfaces 13a and narrower edge faces 13b, the latter being brought together at one end to form ground penetrating points 13c. The opposite end of each tine is .bent at an obtuse angle, across its broader face, to provide securing means, as shown at 13d. In assembling the parts comprising the tine assemblies 69 and 10, three of the tines are placed upon a clamping disk 1| each being so positioned as to lie in two of the intersecting grooves 14, with its bend, 13d at the point of intersection of said grooves and with its pointed end projecting beyond the periphery of the disk, as shown in Figure 10. A clamping disk 12 is then placed upon the disk 1|, so that the tines will be held therebetween. The parts thus assembled are then slid upon the web 66 of the arbor 65.

It will be noted, by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, that the tine assemblies 18 and 1| are mounted upon the web 66 with the web passing through the central openings of the clamping` disks, with the washer-like clamping disk 12 of the assembly 69 engaging the flange 66, of the web, and with the sleeve 18 of the other clamping disk 12 projecting forwardly beyond the web p0rtion of the arbor, so as to overlie the hub portion thereof. It will also be noted that the tine assemblies are spaced apart by a collar 19.

In advance of the tine assemblies, just described, and mounted upon the hub portion 64 of the arbor 65, for rotation therewith, is a pair' of cutting wheels 80 and 8 I, identically construct-A ed, except as to diameter, one of which-is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. Each of these cutting wheels comprises a flat disk notched inwardly from its margin to form radial blades82, and having a central opening 83 of a size to t upon the hub 64 of the arbor. Each of these blades is slightly twisted, in the same direction, to produce a structure similar to that of a rotary fan, and the extremities of these blades are reduced to a. cutting edge as shown at 82a. One of the cutting wheels is slightly larger in diameter than the other and, by referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the larger is so mounted upon the hub 64 as to bear against the projecting end of the sleeve 18, and that the smaller one is spaced therefrom and is positioned adjacent the forward end of the hub.

Between the cutting wheels 80 and 8|, and

bearing thereagainst, are two friction collars, 84

and 84. 'Ihese are so keyed upon the hub 64 as to rotate therewith, but to move longitudinally thereof, and in their mutually adjacent faces are a number of pockets 85, equally spaced. Positioned in these pockets are the ends of coil springs 86 interposed between the friction col--Y lars, which springs tend to force said collars apart, likewise the cutting wheels, that numbered 68 being forced against the projecting end of the sleeve 18, and that numbered 8| being forced against a nut 81 threaded upon the outer end of the arbor hub 64, which end is reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder 88 against1 which said nut impinges. On the outer end of the shaft 54, beyond the arbor hub 64, and bearing thereagainst, is a holdingnut 89 with a jam nut 98. By means of this holding nut, the shaft 54 may be drawn forwardly through the supporting member 5|, so as to adjust the carrier disk `as to be in proper condition for planting without $3 in proper engagement with the flange 41 and so as to adjust the inner end of the arbor 64 in proper engagement against the forward end of said supporting member.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that the tine assemblies 69 and 10 and the cutting wheels 8U are not rigidly secured to the web and hub portions, respectively,v of the arbor 65, but rotate therewith through frictional engagement of the parts, which frictional engagement is brought about by the pressure of the springs B6 against the collars 83 and 84. This structure is provided to prevent damage should the rotating parts encounter an obstruction. In that event.

said parts will slip upon their mountings until the obstruction has been passed.

Bolted at its rear edge to the flange 48, at the lower side of the supporting plate 4|, is a plowshare 9|, which extends forwardly and downwardly beyond the forward end of the shaft 54 to a point below the cutting disks |1a and approximately in vertical alinement with the rear edges thereof. This plow share is shaped to provide a longitudinal gutter, at its center, and its forward end is pointed as at 92.

Bolted to the flange 48, at the upper side of the plate 4|, and extending forwardly over the rotary members of the plow section, is a cover plate 93, upon the upper side of which, at its forward end, is secured a yoke 94 which supports the pin- I8 to which the bar |6 is pivoted.

Secured to one side of the cover plate 93, and projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom, for approximately its entire length, is a fender 95, 'This fender is secured to the cover plate by bolts 96 treaded into the latter, which bolts pass through slots 91 in the fender to permit of adjustment thereof, as will be readily understood.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the motor i3 is in operation, causing rotation of its shaft l2, the tube 59 will also be caused to rotate, carrying with it the sun gear 58, which will cause the planet gears E6 and orbit gear 51 to rotate idly. The rod 63 is then manipulated to rotate the screw 6| into engagement with the orbit gear holding the same against rotation. Thisy will then cause rotation of the carrier disk 53 and the shaft 54, to which said disk is connected, also the arbor S5, the hub 64 of which is keyed to said shaft. The friction collars 83 and M, being connected to the hub, will rotate therewith and will also cause rotation of the cutting Wheels 89 and 8| and the tine assemblies 6s and 19, because of the frictional engagement of the parts, as already described.

After the rotating parts of the plow section have been set in motion, the tractor is caused to advance over the ground, pushing the present mechanism ahead of it. Vegetation, such as weeds, corn, and so forth, in the path of the mechanism, will be encountered and knocked down by the deecting unit I1. The progress of the machine will cause penetration of the plow 9| which will lift the surface soil, together with any vegetation thereon, against the disks |1a, causing such soil and vegetation to be cut by said disks. As the machine continues to advance, the material thus cut is encountered by the rotating cutting wheels and 8|, which cut it transversely and at the same time throw it rearwardly into the paths of the rotating tines. Here it is further broken up and thrown to one `side. In this way, the entire surface of the plot of land may be loosened, broken up, and evenly distributed, so

further preparation.

'Ihe depth of the cut of the plow 9| may be gauged by adjusting the bar I6 at the yoke 24,

in the manner previously described herein. 5 I

The fender may be adjusted with respect to the cover plate 93, so as to cause the coil to be thrown in such a manner as to produce ditches of desired widths, dividedby ridges.

What is claimed is:

1. A soil tilling machine adapted to travel over` the surface of the ground, having means for raising the soil, means for simultaneously cutting the raised soil and throwing the same rearwardly of the machine, and means for breaking the cut soil 15 and throwing the same transversely of and away from. the machine.

2. A soil tilling machine adapted to travel over the surface of the ground, having means for raising the soil, means for simultaneously cutting the 20 raised soil at right angles to the direction of travel and throwing the same rearwardly of the machine, means for breaking the cut soil and throwing the same transversely of and away from the machine, and adjustable means for control- 25. ling the thrown soil.

3. A soil tilling machine adapted to travel over the surface of the ground and having means for cutting soil transversely of the path of the machine and throwing the cut soil rearwardly, means for breaking the cut soil and throwing the soil away from the machine, and means for controlling the thrown soil.

4. A soil tilling machine adapted to travel over the surface of the ground and having a plurality of revolvable soil cutting elements spaced longitudinally of the machine and increasing in diameter from front to rear, said elements being arranged to throw cut soil rearwardly, and means for breaking the cut soil and throwing it away from the machine.

5. A soil tilling machine adapted to travel over the surface of the ground and having a plurality of revolvable soil cutting elements spaced longitudinally of the machine and increasing in diameter from front to rear. said elements being arranged to throw cut soil rearwardly, and a series of soil breakers each including a set of tines and arranged to revolve on an axis longitudinally of the machine for breaking the cut soil and throwing it away from' the machine.

6. A soil tilling machine adapted to travel over the surface of the ground and having a plurality of revolvable soil cutting elements spaced longitudinally of the machine and increasing in diam- 55 eter from front to rear, said elements being ar` ranged to throw cut soil rearwardly, means for breaking the cui; soil and throwing it away from the machine, and means for controlling the thrown soil.

7. A soil tilling machine adapted to travel over the surface of the ground and having means for cutting soil transversely of the path of the Inachine and throwing the cut soil rearwardly, a series of soil breakers each including .a set of tines v65 and arranged to revolve on an axis longitudinally of the machine for breaking the cut soil and throwing it, away from the machine, and means l for controlling the thrown soil.

8. A soil tilling machine adapted to travel over the surface of the ground and having a plurality of revolvable soil cutting elements spaced longitudinally of the machine and increasing in diameter from front to rear, said elements being arranged to throw cut soil rearwardly, a series of 75 soil breakers each including a set of tines and arranged to revolve on an axis longitudinally of the machine for breaking the cut soiland throwing it away from the machine, and means for controlling the thrown soil.

9. In a machine for tilling soil, a longitudinally extending driven shaft, a cylindrical arbor keyed on said shaft and having one cylindrical end of greater diameter than the other cylindrical end to provide a shoulder between the ends, a stop collar at the extremity of the larger end, soil tilling members having hubs rotatably mounted on said larger end, one of said hubs being in contact with the stop collar and another of said hubs projecting beyond the shoulder and overhanging the smaller end, other soil tilling members mounted rotatably on the said smaller end with one of the last members bearing against said over-hanging hub, and friction clutch means keyed to said arbor and effecting yieldable driving of said soil tilling members.

10. In a machine for tilling soil. a revolvably driven arbor having a friction collar at each end, a series of soil tilling members revolvably mounted on said arbor with the end members of the series bearing against said collars. a pair of juxtapositioned friction rings splined on the arbor between two of said members, and spring means between said rings to force said rings apart and against the adjacent members to cause frictional engagement between certain of said members and to force the end members against said collars.

BENJAMIN F. GRAVELY. 

